A2 adverb Informal #1,500 most common 1 min read

好久

hao jiu /hǎo t͡ɕiʊ̯²¹⁴/

Use '好久' to express that a significant amount of time has passed since something last occurred.

Practice it Notes & Tips

好久 in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'a long time' or 'for ages'.
  • Used when something hasn't happened for a while.
  • Common in greetings like 'Long time no see!'

Overview

“好久” (hǎo jiǔ) 是一个非常常用的汉语副词，意思是“很长时间”或“许久”。它主要用来描述一段相对较长的时间，尤其是在口语中，用来表达一种等待、思念或时间流逝的感觉。在汉语中，“好久”的用法非常灵活，可以单独使用，也可以与其他词语搭配，构成各种有意义的表达。

“好久”最常见的用法是放在动词前面，表示“很长时间没做某事”。例如，“我好久没见到你了” (Wǒ hǎo jiǔ méi jiàn dào nǐ le - I haven't seen you for a long time)。它也可以用来强调某事发生后经过了很长时间，例如，“他好久才回来” (Tā hǎo jiǔ cái huílái - It took him a long time to come back)。此外，“好久不见” (Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn - Long time no see) 是一个非常经典的打招呼用语，用于与久未谋面的人相见时。

“好久”常出现在以下语境中：

**描述变化**：当描述经过长时间后事物的变化时，如“这个地方好久没变了。”

  1. 1很久 (hěn jiǔ)：与“好久”意思非常接近，都表示“很长时间”。在很多情况下可以互换使用。例如，“我很久没见到你了”和“我好久没见到你了”意思相同。但“好久”在口语中更常用，语气上可能更带有一点亲切或感叹的意味。

Examples

1

好久不见，你最近怎么样？

everyday

Long time no see, how have you been recently?

2

他离开家乡已经好久了。

narrative

He has been away from his hometown for a long time already.

3

这部电影我好久以前就看过了。

informal

I watched this movie a long time ago.

4

经过好久时间的努力，他终于成功了。

general

After a long period of effort, he finally succeeded.

Common Collocations

好久不见 Long time no see
好久没... Haven't ... for a long time
等了好久 Waited for a long time

Common Phrases

好久不见

Long time no see

好久没吃

Haven't eaten ... for a long time

好久没去

Haven't been to ... for a long time

Often Confused With

好久 vs 很久 (hěn jiǔ)

'很久' is also 'a long time' and often interchangeable with '好久'. '好久' can sometimes feel slightly more colloquial or carry a hint of personal feeling, while '很久' is more neutral and widely applicable in both spoken and written contexts.

好久 vs 良久 (liáng jiǔ)

'良久' means 'a long while' but is much more formal and literary than '好久' or '很久'. It's typically found in written texts and conveys a sense of thoughtful silence or a significant passage of time in a more elegant manner.

Grammar Patterns

Subject + 好久 + (没) + Verb Phrase 好久 + (没) + Verb Phrase Subject + Verb Phrase + 了 + 好久

How to Use It

Primarily used in informal spoken Chinese to express that a considerable amount of time has passed. While it can be used in writing, more formal alternatives might be preferred depending on the context. It often carries a slightly emotional tone, such as nostalgia or anticipation.

Common Mistakes

Confusing '好久' with words that indicate immediate future actions. Ensure you are using it to describe a past period or a lack of recent occurrence. Avoid using it in very formal or academic writing where '很久' or other phrasing might be more appropriate.

Tips

💡

Emphasize the time passed

Use '好久' to highlight that a long period has elapsed. It adds a sense of duration to your statement.

⚠️

Avoid overuse in formal writing

'好久' is more common in spoken Chinese. In very formal written contexts, '很久' or '良久' might be preferred.

🌍

The joy of reunion

The phrase '好久不见' carries a warm sentiment, reflecting the cultural value placed on maintaining relationships and the pleasure of reconnecting with loved ones.

Word Origin

The word '好久' combines '好' (hǎo), meaning 'good' or 'very', and '久' (jiǔ), meaning 'long' (in time). The '好' here functions as an intensifier, similar to 'very' in English, emphasizing the duration indicated by '久'.

Cultural Context

The phrase '好久不见' is a fundamental part of social interaction in Chinese culture, signifying the importance of relationships and the shared experience of time passing. It's a warm and common way to acknowledge a reunion.

Memory Tip

Think of '好' (good) in '好久' as emphasizing how *very* long the time feels, perhaps like a 'good' long wait for something, or a 'good' long time since you last saw someone.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“好久”和“很久”都表示“很长时间”，在很多情况下可以互换。但“好久”在口语中更常用，语气上可能更显亲切或略带感叹。而“很久”则更为中性，书面语和口语都常用。

“好久不见”是一个非常常见的问候语，意思是“长时间没有见面了”。通常在遇到很久没见的人时使用，表达一种重逢的喜悦或感慨。

“好久”通常用作副词，可以放在动词前面，表示“很长时间没做某事”。例如：“我好久没吃饺子了。” 它也可以用于句末，表达一种感叹，如：“他等了好久。”

“好久”本身没有褒贬义，它只是一个表示时间长度的副词。它的感情色彩取决于具体的语境和说话人的语气。

Test Yourself

fill blank

我 ______ 没去过公园了。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 好久

在这个语境下，“好久”是最自然和口语化的选择，表示“很长时间没去”。“很久”也可以，但“好久”更常用。

multiple choice

当你遇到一位很久没见的朋友，你会说什么？

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 好久不见！

“好久不见！”是标准的问候语，用于与久未谋面的人打招呼。

sentence building

我 - 好久 - 没 - 见 - 你

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 我好久没见你。

这是最符合汉语语法的句子结构，表达“I haven't seen you for a long time”。

Score: /3

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